Seasons that change

Last year we had snow. It was so exciting. It wasn't thick, or deep. And it didn't last very long, but it covered everything. It was a few glorious hours of fun and excitement. It makes me wonder . . . would I like to live where it snows? For most of my life the answer would have been "no." I would have said I like to visit the snow but I would never want to live in a place where it snows.

Now that I have lived in the hot, desert for three years, I am starting to reconsider.

It might be fun to live in a place where the leaves changed color in the fall, and Christmas was accompanied by snow, and spring brought a new growth of flowers.

But where would I choose to live? I want to be somewhat close to my parents. Close enough to make a weekend trip if we wanted. So where would that be? Big bear? Cedar City? Kai grew up in Northern Idaho. The summers are beautiful, but the winters supported my argument for only wanting to visit snow.

On the other hand, my desires to live near a beach are pretty strong too. Probably stronger. Maybe I need a summer home and a winter cabin.

Dreadfull things

I hate the fact that they won't do circumcisions in the hospital before you go home. Is it like that in every state? Instead I had to take my sweet little son to the doctor's office and hand him over to a nurse, after paying three hundred dollars to have done what doctor's are now calling a "completely cosmetic" procedure. "Like a tattoo." I am pretty sure that a circumcision is a little less of a "cosmetic procedure" than getting a tatto. And I am quite sure it is much more unpleasant. I also wish that I hadn't known what the procedure involved. I don't even want to think about it! Poor little boys. Baby Kai has been sleeping ever since his traumatic experience. When they handed him back to us, I know he was giving us the evil eye.
Now that I am thinking about tattoos, what do you think hurts more, getting a tattoo or getting it removed?

One Week Today

Baby Kai is one week old today. To me it really just seems like one really, really long day. I am still in love with him and I still think he is just as perfect as ever. I just wanted to share a few of the interesting comment that have come along with having a new brother.

From Cambria:

"Isn't he beautiful?!"

"Look, Dad, he's just like you!" (about the boy part)

I called him "bud" and Cambria said with an excited intake of air " Mom! that's the perfect name!"

"Milk is coming out! What do we do?!"

"Don't worry brother, I will always protect you."

From Kiera:

"Mom, He has a jelly bean" (about the boy part)

Next day she came to watch the diaper change and said "Mom, I can't see his jelly!"

"Hi baby brother, its me Kiera" In her highest pitched voice.

"Mom! put the baby down!" (she wanted computer help)

From both:

Kai was offering our bed time prayer and said "thank you for our new baby Malachi. Cambria whispered "Tarzan" so then Kiera said louder, "No, Derek!" So Kai said, Thank you for our new baby BROTHER. I think they think the name is still up for debate!

The good news is that we are surviving. Life is a little hectic, but we are hanging in there and we are happy.

Funny faces, Bad hair-cuts and Slimy-Wimy

With so many pictures being taken of their new brother, Cambria and Kiera were anxious to steal back some of the spot-light. These are their new favorite funny faces!

The picture of the back of Cambria's head is an attempt to show the haircut she gave herself. I must say that this photo doesn't really do the hack-job justice. Thank heavens for her curly hair. It hides so much. Her hair used to be down to the middle of her back and down to her bum when it was wet. Now it is shoulder length when dry and down to the middle of her back when wet. I try to keep it in a pony tail.

Lastly, I would like to thank my dear mother for encouraging a love of all animals. Ever since her visit the girls have been worm hunting. They even pick them up with their hands! Gross!

Cambria kept one as a pet and named it Slimy-Wimy. I had to insist that this be an outside pet. She tried to build it a house and when I asked her how it went she said, "Not good, I broke him. But, I think he will be alright." At least she is an optimist.

Birth Story

To tell you the truth, I have no complaints. Everything went so well. I had a doctors apt. at 8:50 am on Monday, September 10. So I went. I was hoping to be induced as previously discussed with my doctor, but my hopes were low after my previous "false alarm". Nevertheless, I packed a bag for good luck. Much to my delight, the doctor said it was time and sent me over to the hospital. My mom had come three days earlier "just in case" so she was able to stay with the girls. I called Kai and he met me at the hospital. They gave me penicillin and pitocin and Malachi was born 7 hours later.

When I gave birth to Kiera, I thought I was going to die. I actually blacked out and wasn't aware of much of anything but the pain. This delivery was much different. It hurt don't get me wrong. But it was so much easier than Kiera's birth. I only pushed for about 10 minutes. I do remember asking if "it was working", you know the pushing part. It seemed like his head was staying in the same spot causing a lot of pain. The nurse assured me it was indeed working. My doctor was debating out loud as to whether or not to do an episiotomy. He really didn't want to. But after what seems like hours of debate, Kai says I yelled, "just get him out!" You know you push so far and it feels like they could just grab the head and have the baby out in a little tug. I know that isn't the case, but that is what it feels like. So I did get an episiotomy and he came out on the next push. He is the first of my children I have ever been able to hold immediately after his birth. The nurse placed him on my belly while she cleaned him and even now my eyes fill with tears as I think about the miracle of birth and my newborn son.

Isn't it amazing how fast you can fall in love with your child. When I think how Heavenly Father has blessed me, blessed my family, I feel so incredibly indebted to Him. There really is no way to ever repay God for the miracles he sends into our lives. I guess, accept through obedience.

Malachi Ho'okele Davis

We think he is beautiful and we are so happy to have him in our family. I have lots of stories to tell but that will have to wait for another day.

He's Here!

Our little boy is here!
He arrived two weeks early on September 10, 2007 at 6:41 pm. The delivery went great but the recovery has been painful. I'll put some pictures up later but I wanted to get the news out there!
Stats:
Weight: 7lbs 7 oz
Length: 20 in
Chubby cheeks, double chin, black hair and a face all his own.

Welcome to: Malachi Ho'okele Davis "Baby Kai"
We just love him to pieces!

False Alarm:(

I have been having contraction since I was 20 weeks along. Not painless Braxton Hicks, but the kind that you have to take a few breaths to get through. So When I came home from Walmart on Labor Day, I was surprised that my contractions were coming in 5 minute intervals at 37 weeks. I went about my business but started to keep an eye on the clock. Two hours later after consistent but somewhat weak contractions, they began to be 3-4minutes. A friend advised me that I should probably go to the ER just to check. So I did, fully expecting to be sent home. I drove myself with the only supplies that I could think to bring at the time since my bag was not packed: a pair of socks. They admitted me and my doctor came to see what was happening. He said I was 80% effaced, 2 cm dilated and at zero station. The contractions, of course were not as regular as they had been at my house, but he said they might as well keep me and "get things going."
They strapped me to an IV of fluids and drew my blood, then sent me to the Labor and delivery room where they attached a collection of monitors, a blood pressure cuff, and got me started on my first round of penicillin (because of GBS). So you can imagine my surprise when I initially thought I was going to quickly be sent home. I called Kai and told him that they were going to keep me and asked him to bring a few things when he came. I then called my mother and told her that the baby would soon make his appearance, so she bought a plane ticket for 6AM the next morning.
A nurse named, Bev, came in and told me that after they got the second round of penicillin going through my system they would break my water and then start me on "pit" if that didn't work. I suddenly got scared for the delivery. I really am not fond of pain and Kiera's painfully traumatic delivery lingered in my mind. Plus the IV that was in my arm really hurt.
Kai showed up at the hospital and gave me a blessing and then we decided we better get serious about names. My contractions had pretty much stopped. They were very infrequent and very far a part. We had been at the hospital for about 4 hours when the nurse came in checked the monitors and told me that 37 weeks was still a little bit early to enhance a labor and since the contractions had stopped they were going to let me go home. I wish they would have said that when I firt arrived. Who wants to be stuck with a needle for NOTHING! You can imagine my disappointment. I felt bad that my mom had bought a plane ticket. I felt bad that Kai's mom had driven a half hour to our house to stay over night with the girls. I felt bad that I was going to have to be stuck with another IV needle SOON and have my blood redrawn, SOON.
I wish the stork really was the who "delivered" babies. Wouldn't that make life easy. No getting sick, no getting fat, plenty of energy to chase around your other kids. Now I am even more scared to go back to hospital and push this kid out. My mom said she had a dream that she agreed to go through labor for me. If only . . .